Well I still have my doubts as to its viability for games outside of a single time zone..and I certainly won't be using it if I have to pay for it.

I play every week with folks on the west coast, when I am decidedly east. I suppose you could manage something trans-atlantic, but further than that will have issues, of course. But even play-by-post suffers such issues!

GM Wellard: I just had 10 posters apply for a VTT game I am starting. I will admit that I did post here and in Giants in the playground. I got 5 from each site. If Enworld had not been down I would have posted there also. Now I am glad I didn't. RPG.net is another place to try to find players as well as other sites dedicated to forming groups.

I'm going to be writing up a blog post laying out more details of the Game Space rollout. We're still getting ducks in rows, but it's looking good. (Even if we did miss the "this summer" deadline, depending on which hemisphere you're in...)

I'm going to be writing up a blog post laying out more details of the Game Space rollout. We're still getting ducks in rows, but it's looking good. (Even if we did miss the "this summer" deadline, depending on which hemisphere you're in...)

You have a few months yet before its summer here Australia... It would be a nice Christmas present :-).

Sitting in 38'C heat 95% humidity eating roast dinner and playing with Gamespace.

I'm going to be writing up a blog post laying out more details of the Game Space rollout. We're still getting ducks in rows, but it's looking good. (Even if we did miss the "this summer" deadline, depending on which hemisphere you're in...)

Personally, I don't recall you actually claiming it was going to be the Summer of 2012. :P

On a serious note, I told some new players at the local hobby store about the upcoming Game Space and they were psyched. Some of their friends moved away for college, and they're pretty bummed about not being able to play. They're hoping Game Space can alleviate that problem.

Can we get any kind of update about how the Game Space is coming along? I think the last we heard was there was some coding issues or something.

We've just got out of a meeting blocking out a rough schedule for deployment of the VTT. There are some more ducks we're getting into rows right now, but it should be entering a limited beta phase soon. The above-mentioned blog post should go up sometime this week, it'll have some more details about what we're up to and approximately when.

Edit: I see I should find a new metaphor. Those ducks are getting on my nerves, and I bet everybody else's as well. Maybe ponies.

We've just got out of a meeting blocking out a rough schedule for deployment of the VTT. There are some more ducks we're getting into rows right now, but it should be entering a limited beta phase soon. The above-mentioned blog post should go up sometime this week, it'll have some more details about what we're up to and approximately when.

Edit: I see I should find a new metaphor. Those ducks are getting on my nerves, and I bet everybody else's as well. Maybe ponies.

We've just got out of a meeting blocking out a rough schedule for deployment of the VTT. There are some more ducks we're getting into rows right now, but it should be entering a limited beta phase soon. The above-mentioned blog post should go up sometime this week, it'll have some more details about what we're up to and approximately when.

Edit: I see I should find a new metaphor. Those ducks are getting on my nerves, and I bet everybody else's as well. Maybe ponies.

You could substitute platypus for duck.... The platypus is the superior animal.

We've just got out of a meeting blocking out a rough schedule for deployment of the VTT. There are some more ducks we're getting into rows right now, but it should be entering a limited beta phase soon. The above-mentioned blog post should go up sometime this week, it'll have some more details about what we're up to and approximately when.

Edit: I see I should find a new metaphor. Those ducks are getting on my nerves, and I bet everybody else's as well. Maybe ponies.

You could substitute platypus for duck.... The platypus is the superior animal.

Agreed. the Platypus is the best animal. Now if only we could have platypus familiars...

We've just got out of a meeting blocking out a rough schedule for deployment of the VTT. There are some more ducks we're getting into rows right now, but it should be entering a limited beta phase soon. The above-mentioned blog post should go up sometime this week, it'll have some more details about what we're up to and approximately when.

Edit: I see I should find a new metaphor. Those ducks are getting on my nerves, and I bet everybody else's as well. Maybe ponies.

You could substitute platypus for duck.... The platypus is the superior animal.

Agreed. the Platypus is the best animal. Now if only we could have platypus familiars...

As for metaphors: Putting all your platypuses in piles?

I am not sure what you would call a group of platypi (or platypuses) - A group of kangaroos is called a mob, but the Platypus is a monotreme not a marsupial and they are similar to beavers in lifestyle.

I think I will stick with a aristocracy of Platypi so as not to offend our platypus overlords.

This comes from a brainfart brought on by Gary Teter's previous "Tom Sawyer" post. My own technical knowledge is insufficient to do anything but pose the questions that follow. I am not equipped to contribute to the discussion in a meaningful way, but I'd like to hear people's opinions.

With the advent of Pathfinder Online and the Paizo Game Space VTT, isn't it time for a unifying, open source API? There are so many disparate websites, character generators, mobile apps and virtual table tops, shouldn't there be some method of ensuring they work together? Programmer D&D-nerd friends and I have discussed this topic at length and it could be revolutionary if handled correctly.

The problem with this is that everyone has their own personal variation and interpretation of just the Pathfinder rules.

Many programs are not even tied to Pathfinder, but try to be a general tool. Every program/utility has it's conceptual priorities. Some of these are designed with interoperability in mind, some are more proprietary.

It comes down to the concept that if "We need a standard to integrate the existing standards", all you really accomplish is confusing the situation further by increasing the number of standards.

In short, a unifying API/standard would be wonderful, but A. It's not feasible and B. not all parties are motivated to want it.

Edit: I should clarify that a single unifying API isn't feasible. Not all tools have the same "perspective" on data. As you decrease the set of tools to common functional grouping, common understanding is possible. To some degree, this already exists between some of the bigger tools. The trade-off between general acceptance and universal usefulness must be made, and finding this trade-off is the bottleneck.

The problem with this is that everyone has their own personal variation and interpretation of just the Pathfinder rules.

I totally agree with what you've said, but surely an API that ties into monster stats, condition modifiers, skill check DCs and other objective concepts could work to everyone's benefit. It's not as though there's a massive market for PFRPG apps wherein one developer is seeking to shut the competition down. This is a miniscule community, and Kyle Olson's Combat Manager working with Hero Lab working with D20PFSRD working with Paizo Game Space doesn't do anything but benefit everyone.

When I talk to the various people who make virtual tabletops and other RPG tools, one of the things I mention is a sort of unified API for this sort of thing. Generally they pause for a bit, and then give me the "I think this guy may actually be really crazy" look....

When I talk to the various people who make virtual tabletops and other RPG tools, one of the things I mention is a sort of unified API for this sort of thing. Generally they pause for a bit, and then give me the "I think this guy may actually be really crazy" look....

But is that look because they met you, or because you mentioned the unified API? :)

When I talk to the various people who make virtual tabletops and other RPG tools, one of the things I mention is a sort of unified API for this sort of thing. Generally they pause for a bit, and then give me the "I think this guy may actually be really crazy" look....

I would be very interested in a Pathfinder VT. Here are some features that I would like and also my 2 cents on how pricing should work.

Features:
1.) Option to make rules PFS legal, RAW, or home-brew

2.) Ability to import home-made maps and tokens.

3.) Ability to key custom NPCs

4.) PC url importer, so character creators/managers like Hero Labs, and PC Gen can be used. Herolabs and PC-Gen are very good at creating export functions for other VT's and should do it for Paizo as well.

5.) Some sort of Roll (Attack/Damage/Skill/CBM/CMD/AC/saves) check/explanation where rolls could be quickly verified by GM or players.
[i.e. D20(13)+BAB(3)+Weapon Focus(1)+Str(3)+Magic Weapon(+1)= 21]
This will speed play and it also helps new/old players learn the game.

6.) Allow parser tools, either paizo created or community created to help import/key npcs and modules

7.) Players should be able to log into the VT and create/update characters in between game sessions.

My 2 cents on Pricing:
1.) I think it is important that Paizo make money on the VT.

2.) I think players should not be charged.

3.) I think GM's should pay for a monthly/quarterly/yearly GM license. I would say about $50 per year. This should include some basic maps and tokens.

4.) Pathfinder Society Scenarios, adventure paths, and other modules purchased should be available (when available) for GM's to use on the VT. I doubt they will all be available at the VT's launch. But the community can actually key these for Paizo, just give them credit towards a similar size product, or extend VT license. (It takes me about 3-4 hours to enter a PFS module into FGII, I would expect it to be about the same for Paizo's VT)

5.) An a la carte system where you can buy maps/tokens should be available.

6.) I think a system where purchased content can be used/viewed by anyone present at the VT should be enacted. i.e. If Joe is playing in Bill's campaign and Joe has a map he legally purchased, as long as Joe is present at the VT the map should be available for everyone to use during that session.

Pre-made modules (maps, tokens, maybe stats of monsters...) will be key. You can sell them and if price is right, people will sure buy it. Module/Session preparation is problably a pain (never did it). If you can get it pre-made, that is gold.

I'd like to see it client based not browser based, something like the tabletop from Fantasy Grounds. Your going the wrong way if it's going browser based like roll20 IMO. I'm pretty bummed about that.

You should be able to buy books and modules or AP'S that are already laid out for DM's. Like a store pulling them up in a game session if needed.

Is it going to have a character sheet built in with a generator? If your going the roll 20 route where you have to make a char using some half bit editor that you have to create from scratch you are doing something wrong.

I would like to be able to log into something like the wizards D&d character and make a character Save it and use it in the game.

I'd like to see it client based not browser based, something like the tabletop from Fantasy Grounds. Your going the wrong way if it's going browser based like roll20 IMO. I'm pretty bummed about that.

You should be able to buy books and modules or AP'S that are already laid out for DM's. Like a store pulling them up in a game session if needed.

Is it going to have a character sheet built in with a generator? If your going the roll 20 route where you have to make a char using some half bit editor that you have to create from scratch you are doing something wrong.

I would like to be able to log into something like the wizards D&d character and make a character Save it and use it in the game.

Roll20 has character sheets, and before that (which is a recent addiction) they had API scripts, some of which allow you to copy and paste a statblock onto a token, click a macro button, and poof you have a fully generated character/NPC/Monster with a long list of matching macros. Even with the character sheets, I still prefer to use the importer. And it doesn't just work for monsters (whose stat blocks you can copy and paste from online), I use PC Gen to make my characters, and it has an option to export as a Pathfinder stat block. Copy and paste that, click the mob-importer button, done.

Maybe it could be both Browser based and client based (for those who want to run their own server(s)).

I'm a fan of Roll20. Of all the suggestions I've seen about what Roll20 did wrong or doesn't have in this thread, this is the only comment that is actually correct. Everything is run through their servers, which limits the memory available to GMs for art assets, and limits the processing power for scripts (rarely an issue, but it has happened).

Also, at the beginning of this thread, Gary Teter said in 2012 that Game Space would be available in the Summer of 2012. That's a long enough lapse that WoTC's floundered VTT cmoes to mind. Any recent updates?